Spokane mayor faces allegations of abuse

SPOKANE Mayor James E. West, a former Republican legislativeleader and opponent of gay rights, has been accused of molesting twoboys decades ago and more recently offering a City Hall internshipduring an online chat to someone he thought was a young man but wasin reality a computer investigator hired by a newspaper.

West on Thursday denied the molestation allegations, although heacknowledged visiting a gay Web site and "had relations with adultmen. I don't deny that."

West, 54, said he intended to serve out the 1,150 days left inhis term.

"I am a law-abiding citizen," West said during a brief newsconference in which he did not take questions.

The Spokesman-Review in a copyright story in Thursday's editionshad articles and photographs of two men who allege West molestedthem when they were in the Boy Scouts. Both men Robert J. Galliher,36, of Seattle, and Michael G. Grant Jr., 31, of Spokane havecriminal records because of drug problems.

"I categorically deny allegations about incidents that supposedlyoccurred 24 years ago as alleged by two convicted felons and aboutwhich I have no knowledge," West said.

In an e-mail issued to city employees Thursday, West apologizedfor bringing embarrassment to the mayor's office.

"I stumbled and let you down," West wrote.

He also said he considered his private life off-limits.

No criminal investigations are under way, according to thesheriff and police departments.

West acknowledged to the newspaper that he offered gifts and aninternship over the Web site Gay.com to what he believed was an 18-year-old man, but was actually a private computer expert hired bythe newspaper.

West opposed gay rights, abortion rights and teenage sex during atwo-decade legislative career. He used the online aliases,"Cobra82nd" and "RightBi-Guy" to chat on the Web site. West was inthe Army's 82nd Airborne as a paratrooper

"The Gay.com thing has only been, I can't recall, but it hasn'tbeen very long," he told the newspaper. "I can't tell you why I gothere, to tell you the truth curiosity, confused, whatever, I don'tknow."

Concerning his sexual orientation, "I wouldn't characterize me as'gay,'" West said.

Spokane in the past year has been rocked by dozens of claims ofpast sexual abuse of children by Catholic priests, and the RomanCatholic Diocese of Spokane has declared bankruptcy because of legalclaims.

The newspaper said its investigation of West arose out of tipsreceived in 2002 during its investigations of the Catholic sexabuse.

The newspaper hired the forensics computer expert in October 2004to create a fictitious identity as an 18-year-old boy, and to verifywhether the aliases were actually West.

Steve Smith, editor of The Spokesman-Review, told The AssociatedPress on Thursday that the newspaper was reluctant to hire thecomputer expert, but felt it was necessary because of West'sapparent abuse of office and ongoing potential for harm to youngpeople.

The expert brought knowledge of tracking Internet addresses andidentities of chatroom participants that the newsroom lacked, hesaid.

West denied that his offers to the computer expert constitutedabuse of his public office.

West, a lifelong resident of this city of 200,000, spent twodecades in the Legislature, rising to majority leader of the stateSenate. He was a conservative, well-regarded for his politicalskills but abrasive in style, with a fierce temper.

During a 1990 hearing on AIDS education, West proposed that teensex be criminalized. As a Senate leader, West consistently opposedefforts to expand civil rights protections for gays in jobs andhousing. In February 1998, West voted for the Defense of MarriageAct, a ban on gay marriage.

He won the mayor's office in 2003.

Molestation accusations against West, dating from his years as asheriff's deputy and Boy Scout troop leader, were made in adeposition for a lawsuit against Spokane County by Galliher. Thelawsuit seeks damages for Galliher, his older brother Brett and twoother men, who claim they were molested by another deputy at thetime, David Hahn.

West was not named as a defendant and said he was unaware of thedeposition.

In interviews with the newspaper, Galliher and Grant said theywere introduced to West by Hahn in the late 1970s or early '80s,when the two sheriff's deputies were close friends and leaders ofBoy Scout Troop 345 at Hamblen Elementary School.

E-Mail Excerpts

SPOKANE Here are excerpts from Spokane Mayor Jim West in anonline gay chat room and instant messages to "Moto-Brock," a formergovernment computer expert hired by The Spokesman-Review. TheSpokesman-Review said "JMSElton" was a screen name West used.Punctuation is as it appeared in the messages.

From a Feb. 26 conversation using instant messaging:

JMSElton: "Remember, Im very closeted. No one knows I like guys.Except the few guys Ive been with and highly trusted."

JMSElton: "Its just that the openly gay guys are a little overthe top for me. I dont really like the in-your-face attitude someguys have. And the massive political agenda either. I say live andlet live. Most gay guys turn me off, too."

Their third online chat, again using instant messaging, occursMarch 8. When JMSElton asks for a picture, Moto-Brock sends a randomphoto of a young, dark-haired athletic-looking man.

JMSElton: "I could never be into the gay scene with its politicsand all. Ive just seen too many guys decide once they come out thatit becomes everyone elses problem to deal with. Im not into femmyguys."

JMSElton: "Its our secret here."

The two chat online again March 8 and then March 9. JMSElton sayshe's going to Washington, D.C., on business and mentions taking acouple of high school interns with him on a business trip thereyears earlier.

Moto-Brock: "Ohhhhh. You are killing me here. I want aninternship! So I can go to DC."

JMSElton tells Moto-Brock he has a friend who might be able toget the teen an internship.

On March 21, Moto-Brock receives an e-mail from Spokane Mayor JimWest. It reads, in part, "A friend of mine has asked if I wouldconsider you for an internship in the mayors office" and goes on totell him how to apply.

Moto-Brock e-mails JMSElton the following: "Holy crap, is thisfor real!!?!? The mayor of Spokane sending me an e-mail inviting meto apply for an internship? I cant hardly believe it! He is really afriend of yours? That is unreal. Well, I dont know what to say"thank you" seems like not enough."

When JMSElton and Moto-Brock talk online April 9, they talk aboutmeeting. West electronically sends his photo during the chat, thensends a link to the mayors biography page.

JMSElton: "Well its a part of my life I dont share at all and issomewhat new to me."

JMSElton: "Someday I may run for governor and this would be badif you know what I mean."